Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-19
THE UNITY OF TRADES UNIONS.


 AS diamond, but by diamond can be cut, defying all other appliances, so it is only by internal strife the progress of a popular movement can be stayed. This is true of all organizations for the public good-so- cial, political or industrial; but in the last named it is particularly pointed, for, in addition to the prejudices of, class as- sumption and the rancor of party associa- tions to be encountered in the weakness of divided opposition, there is that which gives strength to the enemy-the consider ation of material and moneyed interests. There is throughout this broad continent an abiding antagonism, fight to the bitter end between Labor and Capital; between the right of the many to receive from their daily toll, daily sustenance adequate to their physical wants, and ample for the modest comforts of wives and children, and the spoliations of the greedy task master, who would abrogate this right and coin, as in a mint, every drop of sweat of the toiler, into new dimes and dollars for their already we'll filled money-bags. Hap oily in our locality, we are without fla grant instances of this strained and unju relations between employer and employed. Waterbury, we believe can boast of as generous manufacturing corporations as any industrial centre of the State or Union, and may pride itself on the possession of a well-ordered and contented community of workers; exceptions there may be in few and minor instances, but the general condition is one of good feeling and har- mony. To preserve this good feeling and guards needed; one consciousness by the laborer of the dignity of Labor; the other recognition by the capitalist of the old Drummond idea on landlordism, that Cap ital has it's duties as we'll as rights
 The whole of last week was occupied, in prominent degree, with considerations in Conventions of the conjoint rights and du- ties of Labor and Capital We published day after day ample reports of the proceed ings. Comparatively free, as we have said, from the great inequalities of the condi- tion of master and serf in other-in the great majority of-places we could not be unmindful of the fact that the Labor in terest of the Union is one and inseperable; and to be effective for good should be one also in design and discipline. Bad exam pie finds easy imitation; and if the strength of the Labor cause should be impaired by division, it is not, perhaps, improbable that even the most liberal employers of the present would take selfish advantage of the employees defences. We ventured the other day a regretful foreboding of dissen- sion The Federation of Labor at one side-the Knights of Labor at the other; both professedly having the one aim and object in view, but each following diver gent paths to the attainment! And yet, the divergence was almost wholly ques- tion or question of discipline, with not a single ingredient to impair the great prin- ciple for which both contended Herein lies the danger of that diamond cutting process; in this the weakness that gives strength to the foe; condemnatory resolu tions by one of the policy or practices o1 the other is not potent proceeding for re- conciliation;
 While the tyrant joined in hate
 They never joined in love.
 And the result will be-unless speedy rec tifcation come-that sectional prejudices will nullify the most sincere pursuits O public good-that personal jealousies ant ambitions will, within their own ranks i'm pair, if not wholly impede the Labo, movement - alienating the sympathy O. friends and giving heart of grace to the what we may call, chartered oppressors O. the workers.
 We read between the lines. In th midst of professions of mutual good vii and toleration it is easy to discern tn latent clements of strife between the Fed erationists and the Knights. Stop it a once; and trample it out, gentleman lead ers-call supplemental conjoint Conven tion of the foremost men at either side and settle the small differences which sup ply no cause for great dissensions.